This past semester with one of my good friends we went through a book by Brennan Manning called “Ruthless Trust.” I had read it before, but I felt like needed to return to it again. Trusting is something that I am not very good at.
Towards the end of this book there is a chapter called “The Geography of Nowhere.” Everyone needs to read this chapter! It completely changed the way I view the present and living in the present. Brennan Manning talks about how it is an act of radical trust to know that God can only be encountered at no other time and in no other place than in the present moment. He describes living in the “nowhere” as living right now and right here.
This particular chapter hit home with me because one I only have a little over a week and a half before I graduate and two before I know it September 1st will be here and I will be embarking on this new journey. Let’s just say that there is a lot to look forward to and it is hard not to look too far ahead and live in the future. For me right now it is hard to live in the “nowhere”. It is hard for me to be content with the “nowhere” because I feel like what is happening now is not as exciting as what will be happening in the future.
However, what I learned from that chapter is that if I am too concerned about the past or the future, then I completely miss out on what the Lord is doing right now. Living in the present and being attentive to what is happening right now is difficult, but it is the only place that the Lord can be fully experienced. And right now I have not graduated yet and I have certainly not left for the World Race. He still has work for me to do here.
“Real living is not about words, concepts, and abstractions but about EXPERIENCE of who or what is immediately before us.” Brennan Manning
I cannot wait to graduate and I am pumped/nervous/excited/anxious for this new journey to begin, but the beauty to be experienced is happening right now. Right now is happening as a type these words and see the sun shining; trying not to let my mind wander too far in the future. The Lord has still has work to do NOW not just September 1st when I leave to love and serve His people. It is so easy for us to say that I will experience God later when we go to camp or leave for the World Race or go to do other missions or whatever else the Lord has in store for our lives, but He wants our attention right now and right here.
Everyday we miss out on birds chirping, conversations with random people, laughing with friends, the wind blowing, and so much more because we are so concerned with what the Lord will eventually be doing in our lives instead of what He is actually doing in our lives in that moment. There is so much beauty in the process rather than just the end result.
So I challenge you to stop what you are doing and ask yourself, “What is the Lord doing right now and right here?” and “What are the things in my life that are preventing me from living in the nowhere?” Maybe you are anxious about future happenings or maybe the present isn’t that much fun and you want to live in the past where things were “easier”. Whatever it is you must recognize it and ask the Lord to help you be more attentive to what He has in store for you now. It is hard and sometimes not fun but it is an act of trust that will be full of little blessings. I am finding it hard to even stay in the now as I type this, but I know that this is where I need to be.
The point is that the Lord is found in the ordinary moments, the little moments of every day, that remind us that we are loved and that we are noticed by the Creator of universe. Our only challenge is to remain in these moments and not get caught up in wanting to move forward too quickly or take steps back because we get scared.
***SPECIAL UPDATE!!!!!
I also just wanted to update everyone on where I am currently with fundraising. Honestly I am still pretty speechless about it because I do not deserve all of the love and support that has been shown to me by all of you! The Lord’s faithfulness throughout this entire process so far has been incredible and I am learning how little I have to offer, but how BIG our God is. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT!!
So….as of today I am currently at $9,872, which means that I have officially met my second deadline and will be able to leave on the World Race on September 1st!!!! Again I seriously can not thank you enough and have been blown away by all of you!!!
